How Desperate Are We To Sign a TE In The First Four Rounds?

[mgteich]

It seems likely that the TE's generally rated in the top 5 will be severely overdrafted. Sure, we could pick a TE in the 6th, but he would compete with Hooman or Williams.

How many TE's do you all still have with 2nd round grades? Do you have any first round grades?

My gut feel is that if we were to sign Keller in the next couple of days, a early TE might be unlikely.

 

[manxman2601]

I still have ASJ as a first round prospect and I'm a fan of CJ's fit in terms of value and positional need. Aside from that, I'm fairly indifferent.

 

[mgteich]

I still have ASJ as a first round prospect and I'm a fan of CJ's fit in terms of value and positional need. Aside from that, I'm fairly indifferent.

CJ in the 2nd?

 

[Sciz]

Tight end is about the one position I've actually had a chance to dig into, and I'm disappointed. Give me Niklas in the mid second or later or Fiedorowicz at the end of the fourth. If neither of those are there, then sign Keller and call it good.

 

[Gator Mike]

I'm a homer... I still think Mark Harrison is gonna be converted to Tight End and catch 45 passes this year.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Niklas can be taken in the 2nd, we may have to move up from 62 to get him.

 

[BobDigital]

Pretty desperate. Even if we sign Keller than we have 2 injury prone TEs. So yay!

We need to draft one and i would say it is the only MUST DRAFT position

 

[My2Cents]

It seems likely that the TE's generally rated in the top 5 will be severely overdrafted. Sure, we could pick a TE in the 6th, but he would compete with Hooman or Williams.

How many TE's do you all still have with 2nd round grades? Do you have any first round grades?

My gut feel is that if we were to sign Keller in the next couple of days, a early TE might be unlikely.

I have Ebron dropping to, at least, the Jets or Packers. But I'm not convinced any TE is a 1st rounder.
I'm not sure any is worth a 2nd!
But I do think they are desperate enough to take somebody like
Blanchflower as early as 3 or 4.
I have him to the Pats in rd 7 now.

 

[supafly]

2 thoughts:

1. Belichick probably doesn't view it as nearly as desperate as our fan posts would suggest, but as a fan, I definitely believe that we should address one of the top 5-6 TEs. That will likely need to be done within the first 3-4 rounds for sure. Hooman is a nice blocking TE, but we shouldn't have to go into any game with him as the TE1 or even TE2 again in my opinion.

2. It seems as though many here immediately felt that just because Keller was brought in for a look, we'd definitely be signing him. I'm not sure where that thought comes from, but we also looked at Owen Daniels just as well about a month ago, and didn't sign him either. We just don't know how healthy Keller is at this time. It's a huge unknown. We could sign him today, or never--but I never got the consensus opinion that he'd definitely be signed.

 

[manxman2601]

CJ in the 2nd?

That's pushing it for me. Our third pick, wherever that might be, would be fine by me.

 

[DarrylS]

Three years ago our TE's were a significant(dominant) force and made the offense better, but we have been falling off since then, when our offense was on the drawing board last June it was viewed it as an opportunity for the new receivers to ease into the offense... shyt happened.

My belief is that we need a significant upgrade to compliment Gronk, and to take the focus off of our young WR's, not as sophisticated as most folks on this draft forum, so I do not know who is the best fit and at which round, but we need an upgrade.

 

[Big-T]

That's pushing it for me. Our third pick, wherever that might be, would be fine by me.

You wouldn't be happy if he gets picked with the teams first pick then? Seen him as high as the mid 50s on one big board now, I think the media are/will be starting to get word that teams have him rated much higher than they ever have in past rankings (doesn't have the character concerns of ASJ etc).

 

[manxman2601]

You wouldn't be happy if he gets picked with the teams first pick then? Seen him as high as the mid 50s on one big board now, I think the media are/will be starting to get word that teams have him rated much higher than they ever have in past rankings (doesn't have the character concerns of ASJ etc).

He doesn't have the athleticism either. I just don't think he's a locked in starter which is why I'd be very surprised if he goes in the top two rounds and is also why I'd be uncomfortable taking him that high. If we're going to take a TE that high, just get ASJ, his potential is sky high in comparison to CJ.

 

[Big-T]

He doesn't have the athleticism either

ASJ hasn't done any drills so can't really be compared to the (surprisingly) athletic numbers Fiedorowicz put up? It's hard to judge based on tape because Iowa clearly used CJF wrong with the 5 yard routes they had him run if he really is athletic as his combine numbers showed.

Factoring in character concerns and all-round talent, for me, CJF is the better/safer prospect. If he ends up being anything from pre-injury Ballard upward, he's going to be a starter for a long time in the league.

 

[My2Cents]

ASJ hasn't done any drills so can't really be compared to the (surprisingly) athletic numbers Fiedorowicz put up? It's hard to judge based on tape because Iowa clearly used CJF wrong with the 5 yard routes they had him run if he really is athletic as his combine numbers showed.

Factoring in character concerns and all-round talent, for me, CJF is the better/safer prospect. If he ends up being anything from pre-injury Ballard upward, he's going to be a starter for a long time in the league.

Not to throw cold water on the whole CJF thing, because I've actually liked him for several years now, but, a little known fact about him is that his position coach at Wisconsin is Aaron Hernandez's brother. Not to say that he should be penalized for that, neither should, but the comfort level becomes a factor.

Also, his athleticism was never a question. He was a very highly recruited player because of it. His, development, however was slow, and he never really lived up to all the hype surrounding him early.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Pretty desperate. Even if we sign Keller than we have 2 injury prone TEs. So yay!

We need to draft one and i would say it is the only MUST DRAFT position

I agree 100%, our TE position is pretty shabby at this moment. Considering having a good pass catching TE makes this offense hum, gotta draft at least one. I'd love Jace Amaro in round 1 and another TE in round 3 or 4.

 

[manxman2601]

ASJ hasn't done any drills so can't really be compared to the (surprisingly) athletic numbers Fiedorowicz put up? It's hard to judge based on tape because Iowa clearly used CJF wrong with the 5 yard routes they had him run if he really is athletic as his combine numbers showed.

Factoring in character concerns and all-round talent, for me, CJF is the better/safer prospect. If he ends up being anything from pre-injury Ballard upward, he's going to be a starter for a long time in the league.

There were some leaked results from his junior pro day, which should be treated with caution of course, that showed ASJ has good athleticism. And to be frank, he looks more athletic on tape, particularly his 2012 tape. I believe he's got starter upside, not that far behind Gronk. I have always been a big fan of ASJ though. On the other hand, CJ, who I like and am predicting as our pick, is a plus Jake Ballard.

 

[Nonentity]

My thinking goes like this:

- This is not a deep TE class.

- All of the prospects have significant flaws other than Ebron, who should go before we pick at 29.

- The only semi-safe prospect (excluding Ebron) is CJ Fiedorowicz, but there's no proof that he's athletic enough for the NFL - his combine numbers are better than he's played in pads.

- The lack of good tight ends means that flawed players will get drafted far sooner than they deserve to.

ASJ (motor, character)
Amaro (size/blocking, 4.74 40, questionable ability to get NFL separation)
Fiedorowicz (quickness, production)
Niklas (raw, concussions)

- It'd be no surprise if all of them bust.

- Therefore if we follow Best (Appropriate) Player Available, we shouldn't draft any of them, and fill our other needs instead - DL/OL/WR etc - especially if the right players are sitting there.


I'd rather see us pick up an unheralded prospect in Rounds 4-7 than waste a good draft pick on one of those four.

 

[Luxusdk]

ASJ hasn't done any drills so can't really be compared to the (surprisingly) athletic numbers Fiedorowicz put up? It's hard to judge based on tape because Iowa clearly used CJF wrong with the 5 yard routes they had him run if he really is athletic as his combine numbers showed.

Just search after the data and you get them, ASJ had a pro day, fine one infact. At 6-foot-6 and 271 pounds, he ran a blazing 4.56 in the 40-yard dash with a 37.5-inch vertical jump, NFL scout Dave-Te’ Thomas told Packer Report on Saturday. I cant find 3 cone but honestly, i dont care. Those numbers with his tape should do it.

 

[varjao]

Pretty desperate

Not drafting one of the top TE = forget SB

Gronk will not play all 16 regular season games and there is a chance he will not be available on the playoffs either because players tend to be banged up by the end of the season and he already is robocop.

Going to the playoffs with only mindget slot receivers again, I have seen this movie many times.

I'm pretty much satisfied with all the moves we've done so far in defense during this off season, there are still needs, but there will ever have needs, no team is absolutely complete in any given time. This defense is already a top 5 defense, comparing to what we had a few years ago. 2010/11 it was a freak show, you know when it's beyond sad that becomes funny.

And yet he had the best shot to win the SB those years with the 2 TE offense and jags WR (not counting Moss).

Bring the weapons for the offense in the first 4 rounds, then try some steals later in the draft and I'm happy. WR/TE/OL/RB it is.